Pole vaulting Mexicans, catapulting Mexicans, Flash Gordon Mexicans with jet backpacks, Mexican skydivers from cropdusters? (^:

In San Diego, they built a wall. Within weeks, a tunnel was built as an underpass. The authorities found out, blocked it and brought in a cement truck to fill it. They were astonished to see the truck sink into the ground as it was parked over a new tunnel.

We have had professional illegal immigrant guides and assistants called coyotes and burros. Why not gophers?

I would certainly agree that "[a]n $11 billion showpiece isn't wise." But I remain unconvinced that a fence, properly built, could not be effective. And I believe that majority opinion in the US ought to inform our national policies, of any sort whatever; and since the majority supports the building of a fence, according to all the polls I have seen, we should have a fence.

This begs the question: Why are so many Mexican citizens "desperate"? Answer: The Mexican economic tradition does not seem congenial--for some inexplicable reason or combination of reasons--to the creation of a robust economy; and it has demonstrated this fact over a period of centuries, far antedating NAFTA. So why should it be the responsibility of the US to address this glaring deficiency on the part of Mexico?

I would be in favor of our positioning the Border Patrol near the border fence, in many (constantly, but not predictably) rotating places. And I would also favor our placing razor wire atop the fences (yes, plural; as I mentioned previously, I would like to see a double fence). Those who might wish to compare such an edifice to the infamous Berlin Wall are, of course, free to do so. But sensible people should be easily able to discern the difference between a structure that was intended to keep local citizens in (in order to avoid a "brain drain") and one that is intended to keep intruders out.

It could certainly be part of the solution, unfortunately many people seem to think that a fence, or even a massive Great Wall, is ALL we need.

Majority opinion's great and all, but the majority doesn't live near the border, to see what's going on, here, every day. What the hell do people in Pocatello know? It's obvious no Congrefsman spends any time out in the desert, watching the drug mule trains, all day long. Fences are great, but I'm tellin' ya, it's only about 5% of a solution.

I get where you're coming from, but indignantly passing responsibility around doesn't get anything accomplished. They are passing their problems directly to us, therefore it becomes our issue. Doctors, lawyers and engineers don't come over, it's the unskilled poor. The Mexican government obviously sees it as a nice deal for them, so why in the world would they want to change....to make US happy? What's in it for them, you know? It's just so messed up.....

We do that. About 1,000 underpaid, under-equipped men patrol 2,000 miles. It's ridiculous. The money's not being put where the mouths are, and Washington's 2,000 miles away, and focused elsewhere. And that stupidly expensive concept of "electronic fencing" has been a pathetic boondoggle from the get-go.

I'm telling you, no matter how studly that fence is, that, alone is NOT going to solve this. Wanna put cement or steel 1,000 feet down, to prevent tunnels, too? (Ka-ching!) Double-fencing? (Ka-ching, ka-ching!) Enough men to patrol, in towers within eyesight, 24/7, over 2,000 miles? (Ka-ching, ka-ching, ka-ching!)

I'm not saying I have the solution, but a fence concept is almost ludicrous. Anything other than a token effort is going to cost an insane amount of money we simply don't have.

I invite you to come on down and have a look-see for yourself. Can ya tell we're a mite frustrated?

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There is no sig. There never was a sig. The sig is a lie.

The real problem, it seems to me, is not the Mexican's government's apparent indifference to the American people's concerns, but the unholy alliance between the Open Borders left and the Cheap Labor right on this issue, and American politicians' desires to pander to these bases.

I agree with your assessment of "electronic fencing" as a "pathetic boondoggle" that is very unlikely to be effective. As for the "1,000 underpaid, under-equipped men [who] patrol 2,000 miles," perhaps we should double, or even triple, that number.

As the MasterCard commercial famously proclaims, some things are priceless. And I would argue that our national sovereignty falls into precisely that category; and, moreover, that it simply cannot be sustained without our having control of our own borders.

Have you ever thought that there may just be more to it. You know, el presidente jorge and his North American Union dream? He wants to merge Mexico with the US. 10% of the entire population of Mexico is in the US illegally. Jorge kept trying to amnesty those 20 million illegals without, of course, stopping the illegal Mexican invasion. That way the next 10% of the entire Mexican population could begin breaking in illegally.

Electronic fencing could be electrified fencing. Run a few hundred thousand volts through the fence. Post do not touch fence or you will be electrocuted, in Spanish, every 100 feet along the fence. Or maybe the sign should say 'DANGER ELECTRIFIED FENCE THE U S GOVERNMENT NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR YOUR DEATH IF YOU TOUCH FENCE.' Just to get the illegal's attention.

Well said.

Shouldn't the fence say "Peligro: cerca electrificada, el gobierno EEUU no se responsaliza por su muerte si la toca?"

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"Have you no decency, sir? At long last, have you left no sense of decency?"
-Joseph Welch

'Course not! What's wrong with good ole 'Merkin English, you damned commie?!

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There is no sig. There never was a sig. The sig is a lie.

Dude, check your numbers. Ten percent of Mexico's population is NOT 20 million people.

Since none of you who favor a fence has addressed it to this point, I'll bring up something I mentioned in my previous post...

What do you propose we do with the portion of the border that follows the Rio Grande (half the length of the border)? Should we electrify the whole river? There's a great idea! Do we fill it with concrete and continue to wall?

As you said, there's more to this issue that just this or just that. The 'union' idea is part of it, lack of development in Mexico is part of it, corruption on both sides of the border is part of it, vested and special interests are part of it, drug smuggling is part of it, weapons smuggling is part of it, simple economics is part of it, even the 'American dream' is part of it.

We can't solve this problem alone. Nor can Mexico. I don't claim to have all the answers, but as I have always contended, there are so simple sollutions. This is a very broad problem affecting more than one or two countries and finding a workable sollution will involve open-minded, honest discussion of ALL the various and competing interests. As Skerlnik said, the fence is about 5% of the sollution. Where do we go from there?

Granted, a fence may help STEM the flow, but it will never stop it. There are a lot of provocative ideas out there, like 'real ID' and fines for employers and many others, but NONE of these in itself will solve the whole problem.

Finally, I find it mildly ironic that those of you concerned with our 'sovereignty' seem not to be concerned with our other land border. You know, Canada, the one the Millenium bomber crossed? Should we build a fence up there too? It has been estimated that there may be as many as one million Canadians living and working in the US illegally. Are they as much of a threat to us as Mexicans?

Oh, wait. They're white.

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"Yes. That's correct. Making a statement that's 100% true can't be bigoted."

Wait till Pakistani-Canadians start coming.

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"Have you no decency, sir? At long last, have you left no sense of decency?"
-Joseph Welch

So who has the contract for building the fence? Yet another no bid Halliburton contract via Dick Cheney?

Its election year and a fence is good physical prop and advertisement that the Republicans are really doing something to secure the border.